CANANDAIGUA — Tempers ran hot Monday in the chilly north courtroom of the Ontario County Courthouse as testimony concluded in the arson-for-hire trial of Shallamar L. Hayward-Crawford.

The 29-year-old expectant mother is the third of three defendants charged with arson, conspiracy and attempted insurance fraud stemming from a house fire on Dec. 22, 2013. That blaze destroyed her 41 Saltonstall St. home and damaged two adjacent structures. The other two — her husband Samuel F. Crawford, and family friend William (Bill) Bradley Jr. — have pleaded guilty to identical charges and await sentencing.

During Hayward-Crawford’s testimony, defense counsel Aaron Sperano and Assistant District Attorney Brian Dennis volleyed examination and cross-examination questions and objections throughout most of the afternoon, inciting visible frustration from Judge Craig Doran, prompting multiple trips to the bench for Dennis and Sperano, and triggering the repeated adjournment of the eight-woman, four-man jury out of earshot of debate.

Jury members were excused an estimated 15 times to accommodate judge-counsel face-offs, and at least three motions for mistrial were logged by Sperano during Dennis’ cross-examination of the defendant due to what Sperano said was “highly prejudicial line of questioning.”

Opposing counsels argued over admissibility of new evidence, references to Hayward-Crawford’s current state of incarceration, the defendant’s use of her cell phone to give testimony about previous text messages, the hearsay nature of testimony, references to the defendant’s financial status, and the apparent unwillingness of Hayward-Crawford to answer yes or no questions without elaborating.

“Honestly, this is going to go a lot better if you give a yes or no answer, ma’am,” Doran said repeatedly to Hayward-Crawford, who argued back on one occasion.

Special emphasis was placed by both Sperano on an alleged affair between Hayward-Crawford’s husband and alleged co-conspirator, Sam, and the wife of alleged co-conspirator Bill Bradley, Jessica Bradley. Monday’s testimony revealed that Hayward-Crawford had loaded a mobile tracking device onto Sam's phone while he slept — a device that tracked his location every 15 minutes and recorded his text messages. This, she said, is how she became aware of his affair with Jessica Bradley.

“She forged her testimony as we believe the jury wants to hear them, which is with an explanation,” said Sperano after court Monday. “There’s background to it, there’s history with these people, and there’s important facts that need to be known. We got a chance for Shallamar give her story to the jury in full, and she held up under cross examination.”

Hayward-Crawford, now in the very late stages of pregnancy and using a walker, faces one count of third-degree arson for the fire at her property, two counts of fourth-degree arson for damage to adjoining properties, attempted insurance fraud, and conspiracy.

According to trial testimony, Hayward-Crawford and Crawford allegedly committed the arson on Dec. 22, 2013, in an effort to receive proceeds from her insurance company. The couple allegedly approached William Bradley, Jr., an acquaintance, and asked him to help with the arson in the presence of his wife, Jessica.

Page 2 of 2 - Hayward-Crawford’s three children are currently staying with a relative, and her two stepchildren are with their biological father, Sperano said. Her unborn child is due any day, he said.

Closing remarks will be made on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 1 p.m.

On July 17, Samuel F. Crawford was convicted of three counts of arson, one count of attempted insurance fraud and one count of conspiracy. He will be sentenced on Sept. 25. William Bradley Jr. pleaded guilty to the same charges on Monday, July 13, and will be sentenced on Sept. 3.